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Selecting an Autofocus Mode

Nikon cameras are equipped with a variety of autofocus (AF) modes that are designed to handle any shooting situation. Whether you are shooting portraits, landscapes, or street photography, there’s an AF mode to help keep your subject in focus.

Single Point AF mode allows you to isolate your focus to the most important point in your composition. This is great when you are photographing a static subject. When using Single Point AF mode, you will be able to select the focus point manually.

To accurately track unpredictable and moving subjects, there are three AF modes that you can use:

Dynamic-area AF mode allows you to select the focus area and will help track moving subjects inside the AF area. This mode is great for photographing sports, children, and events. You can set the size of the area by selecting the number of AF points you would like to use – 9, 11, 21, 39, or 51-point AF. If you would like to track unpredictable moving subjects with greater accuracy, select the 9-point option. When there is insufficient contrast for fast focus detection, choose 21- or 51-point. These two are ideal modes to use especially when photographing in continuous shooting mode

Developed by Nikon, the Group-area AF mode focuses using a group of five focus points. The focus points can be moved according to your preference. This helps to reduce the risk of the camera focusing on the background instead of your subject. This mode is useful for photographing subjects that are moving erratically, such as wildlife or sport photography.

If you are shooting portraits, Auto-area AF mode uses colour information and facial recognition to automatically focus on an individual’s face. This is an extremely helpful feature for when you do not have time to select a focus point or when you are using Live View mode at high or low angles.

Some Nikon DSLRs such as the Nikon D750 are equipped with a 3D-tracking mode, which uses a predictive system that utilises special algorithms to calculate the position of the subject. In this mode, the camera automatically moves the focus point to track the moving subject, ensuring that it is always in focus.

Explore using the different AF modes to achieve sharp and focused images of your subjects.

ABOUT THE GEAR

D500

Experience unmatched power and speed with the flagship DX-format D500. Packed with power in a compact body, the D500 is equipped with the EXPEED 5 image-processing engine and the new Multi-CAM 20K autofocus (AF) system with 153 AF points and 99 cross-type sensors. No matter where you are, stay constantly connected and automatically transfer images to your smart device with the new SnapBridge feature. From low-light cityscapes to thrilling wildlife scenes and fast action shots, the D500 is the ideal companion to your adventures.

D750

Packed with an array of powerful features in an incredibly compact frame, the Nikon D750 is the ideal companion for your shooting journeys. With an impressive 24.3-megapixel image sensor and an EXPEED 4 image-processing engine, the D750 ensures that every full-frame image you capture retains rich gradation and remarkable detail. The first Nikon DSLR to feature a specially designed movie-shooting menu with preset control settings, the D750 is deal for creating cinematic quality videos easily and efficiently.

D5

Stay on top of your game with the Nikon D5. Featuring an autofocus system with an incredible 153 focus points and 99 cross-type sensors, subjects moving at high speed can be tracked with a new level of precision. With an unrivalled ISO range of 100 to 102400, expandable to an ISO range of Hi 5 (equivalent to ISO 3280000), the possibilities of low-light shooting is boundless. The D5 is also the first Nikon DSLR with the ability to record high definition up to 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)/ 30p in-camera, bringing moviemaking flexibility to the forefront of the pack.